Range rod holder



Jan. 2, 1940. w. H. DUERR RANGE ROD HOLDER Filed Aug. 4, 1939 nullINVENTOR WITNESSES v 5 my D m O M m a zvn/ m: w%

Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

This invention relates to range rod holders and has for an object toprovide a construction which is simple and easy to adjust but which willaccurately hold a range rod in a vertical position.

Another object is to provide a range rod holder which may be mounted toswingaround a given point and which is provided with a universaladjustable head to which the range rod is adapted to be clamped.

A further object of the invention is to provide a range rod holder and astool coacting with the holder provided with a rod supporting arm,whereby a range rod may be held in a vertical position regardless of theangle of the support for demonstration purposes.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. l is a side view of a range rod holderand stool disclosing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a front view of the structure shown in Fig. l, the same beingillustrated on a reduced scale with the stool shown mounted on aninclined support.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, i indicates a stooland 2 a range rod holder, while 3 indicates the range rod. In surveying,a range rod, similar to rod 3, is used and to secure accurate resultsthis rod must be held vertical. Various means heretofore have beenprovided for holding this rod in place but much difiiculty has beenencountered in holding the rod 3 vertical when the ground adjacent thesame is irregular or at an angle to the horizontal. In the presentinvention means have been provided which will hold rod 3 verticalregardless of the regularity or irregularity of the ground or othersupport.

As shown particularly in Fig. 1, the stool l is provided with suitablesupporting legs 4 connected to the top piece 5 in any suitable manner.The top piece 5 is provided with an aperture which accommodates a bolt 6carrying a wing nut 1. For the purpose of demonstrating the device, anarm 8 is secured at 9 and H] to two of the legs 4, so that the outer endll may project a desired distance from the stool and be held in a givenposition. The end II is provided with a notch l2 for receiving thetapering end l3 of rod 3. Also a supporting bar I4 is connected with endH and carries a transverse foot l5 adapted to rest on the ground orother support. An arm or body 25 is provided with a longitudinal slotI6, as shown in Fig. 2, which extends from in an arc.

' are carried by the head 23.

near the end H to the end l8 where it merges into a socket I9 having aflaring opening 23. The socket I3 is adapted to receive a ball 2!formed. integral with or rigidly secured to a rod 22, which rod issecured" in any desired manner 5 to a head 23. The head 23 has anopening 2 1 through which the sight rod 3 extends. The body or arm 25carries a bolt 26 and a win nut 21 which is adapted to be tightened forgripping the ball 2! when head 23 has been properly adjusted. The bolt 5is adapted to clamp the body 25 firmly to the stool I. It will readilybe seen that when nut 'l is loosened, body 25 may be movedlongitudinally easily and also swing After body 25 has been moved to adesired position, nut 2'! is tightened and then the head 23 will be heldrigidly in its adjusted position. In properly positioning head 23, nut2! is loosened and head 23 is then adjusted, after which nut 21 istightened and head 23 locked in its adjusted position. A number of setscrews 28 These set screws are preferably provided with knurled heads,whereby they may be easily adjusted by the thumb and finger of theoperator to clamp or loosen the 25 rod 3, as the case may be.

When setting the rod 3 in the notch l2, the screws 28 are loosened andthe rod is then moved to a vertical position. This position may beascertained by a spirit level, a plumb, or other 30 means as desired,and then set screws 28 are tightened for holding the rod 3 in theadjusted position. I When the device is used in the field, the body 25is swung to either side of arm 8 and then rod 3 caused to rest on a markor depression in the earth or an object carried by the earth. If asurveyor has marked a stone, for instance one that is embedded in theearth, the bar could be adjusted so that point I3 would rest on thecross marks. The rod 3 could then be moved to a vertical position andlocked in such position as just described. When the surveyor takes thesight he would secure an accurate reading because of the verticalposition of the rod. Usually the lower part of the rod is hidden bygrass or other extraneous matter so that the person viewing the rodwould see only the upper end of the rod. If the rod should be slightlyinclined either to the right or left, the surveyor would probably notnotice this fact through the sighting instrument and, consequently,secure a false reading. By providing a universal adjustable means forsupporting the range rod 3 in a true vertical position, there can be noerror in respect to this rod. After the surveyor had taken down theproper figures after sighting the rod, the stool, rod holder and rodcould then be shifted to another position and again adjusted so that therod would be vertical. The surveyor would then take a second sight andput down the proper figures. This action would be carried out as long asthe surveying was continued.

While the stool l is desirable it is not always essential as the holderarm 25 could be mounted on some other kind of a support or evenconnected to a tree stump or fence and then the head 23 adjusted to holdthe arm 3 in a vertical position. After the rod 3 has been arranged in avertical position the accuracy of the adjustment may be tested by aplumb-bob, spirt level, or other instrument.

I claim:

1. A range rod holder including a body having a slot extending from oneend to near the other end, means extending through said slot foradjustably clamping the body in operative position, said body adjacentone end of said slot having a round cavity, a ball fitting into saidcavity, a circular head connected with. said ball, means for squeezingparts of said body against said ball for locking the ball againstmovement, and means carried by said head for clamping a range rod.

2. A range rod holder including a body, means for mounting the body sothat the body may have a longitudinal back-and-forth movement and arotary movement, a rod supporting head, and universally adjustable meansfor connecting said head with said body.

3. A range rod holder including a body, means for securing the body to asupport, a head having an opening through which the range rod is adaptedto extend, means for clamping the range rod to said head, anduniversally adjustable means for connecting said head to said body.

4. A range rod holder comprising a holder body having a slot therein, aclamping bolt extending through said slot for clamping the body to asupport, a range rod receiving head arranged at one end of said body, aball-and-socket structure connecting said head with said body, and aclamping bolt for producing friction in said balland-socket connectionto lock the same against movement.

5. A range rod holder comprising a supporting body, a head having anopening adapted to receive a range rod, means clamping the range rod tosaid head, a ball-and-socket'structure connecting said head with saidbody, and a clamping bolt for clamping said ball-and-socket structuresufilciently to produce friction for locking the head against accidentalmovement.

6. A range rod holder including a body, a head adjustably connected withsaid body, said head having an aperture extending therethrough, and aplurality of spaced set screws carried by said head for clamping andholding a range rod substantially centrally of said aperture.

'7. A range rod holder including a body, a range rod receiving head,means for clamping a range rod to said head, a ball-and-socket structureformed partly of said body and partly of said head, said ball-and-socketstructure connecting said head with said body, and a clamping bolt forproducing friction in said ball-and-socket structure to lock said headagainst accidental movement.

WILLIAM H. DUERR.

